Winding reel



Feb. 4, 1941. L JORDAN 2,230,493

WINDING REEL Filed Dec. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i i F1111 FIB-.4

5 FIG] 57 7 INVENTOR F 5 LAVERN .1, JORDAN ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1941.

L. J. JORDAN WINDING REEL Filed Dec. 27, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORLAVERN J. JORDAN Feb. 4, 1941. JORDAN 2,230,493

WINDING REEL Filed Dec. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE.5

.INVENTOR BY I 8 I I 4 I. l ATTORNEY LAVERN J JORDAN v Feb. 4, 1941. L JJORDAN Q 2,230,493

WINDING REEL Filed Dec. 27, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR LAVERN J.JORDAN ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATE s PATENT OFFICE wmnmonear.

' Application December 27, 1938, Serial No. 247,813

. 15 Claims.

This invention relates to winding reels of the type which, duringrotation thereon-continuously wind strip material thereon, advance itlengthwise thereof in a plurality of generally helical 6 turns, andunwind it therefrom. The winding reels of the present inventionfindcommercial application in a variety of 'ways.' They may, forexample, be employed to advantage for continuously but temporarilystoring in a small, compact space any suitable strip material, such asthread, ribbons, films, artificial horsehair, artificial straw, bundlesof filaments, etc., all of which are for convenience referred tohereinafter as thread.

The reels illustrated as embodying the invention, which are ofrelatively large diameter, are applicable to the manufacture of fibersof staple length by a continuous process performed on apparatus of thetype shown, described and claimed in application Serial No. 144,582,filed May 25, 1937, by Hayden B. Kline and Lavern J. Jordan. In saidapparatus threads consisting of thousands of filaments are formed,continuously but temporarily stored on a series of reels, and subjectedto any desired processing media, after which the filaments are severedinto fibers. Reels of relatively large size are required because of thefact that the large threads require considerable space on the 'reels andhence the pitch of the helices formed by the reels must be large inorder to prevent overlapping of the adjacent threads.

Reels of the type with which the present invention is concerned areparticularly well adapted for such use since, even when of large size,they are relatively light in weight, of low cost, and operate at aminimum power consumption. It will be understood, of course, that whilethe invention will be disclosed hereinafter in connection with reelsparticularly adapted to the manufacture of fibers of staple length,reels embodying the invention may be employed for numerous other uses.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a plan view of a reel embodyingthe present invention, together with its associated supporting anddriving apparatus. Figure 2 is a front elevation of the.

scale as the preceding figures depicting a portion of one reel memberbut embodying other means for holding the bar members in place on thesupporting members. Figure 7 is an elevation of an. individual barmember adapted to be mounted as 5 shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an end elevation from line 8-8 of Figure 9 of another formof reel embodying the invention. Figure 9 -ls a sectional elevationthrough said reel from line 99 of Figure 8, parts 10 of the reel beyondthe section being omitted for the sake of clearness. Figure 10 is anelevation on an enlarged scale of the hub member on which are mountedthe supporting members of the driving reel member. Figure 11 is anelevation on 15 the same scale as Figures 8 and 9 of an individual barmember forming part of the driving reel member. Figure 12 is a sectionalelevation of said bar member on an enlarged scale from line l2-l 2 ofFigure 11. Figure 13 is an elevation of the 20 inner supporting memberfor the bar members of the driving reel member. Figure 14 is a sectionalelevation of the supporting member of Figure 13 from line i l-l4thereof. Figure 15 is an elevation of the inner supporting member forthe bar 25 members of the driven reel.

In the drawings, like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout.

By reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, it can be seen that the reel of thefirst embodiment of the 80 invention is formed of two wholly rigid reelmembers i and 2 each of which is substantially circular in crosssection. Each of said members is shown as of substantially cylindricalform, although they may, if desired, beof other forms;'85 e. g.,frusto-conical. Reel member I has a periphery formed of longitudinallyextending radially projecting bar members 3, while reel member 2. has aperiphery made up of longitudinally extending radially projecting barmembers 4, the bar 40 members of the two reel members being alternatelydisposed so that the two reel members occupy substantially the samespace. Each of the reel members is mounted for rotation about its ownindividual axis, the axes of the two reel 45 members being inclined fromparallelism with each other in a manner which causes thread wound aboutthe reel members to advance lengthwise thereof during rotation of saidreel members.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reel members aremounted for rotation about axes which are disposed in inclined relationto each other in parallel planes.

In the embodiment of the invention under discussion, driving reel memberI is concentrically 56 mounted on and for rotation with a drive shaft Ijournalled in a frame member 8 which, as shown in Figure 1, is providedwith a flange I by means of which it is mounted as by bolts I on theframe 2 of the apparatus as a whole. Reel member I may therefore forconvenience be called the concentric reel member. The driven reel member2 is mounted on said frame member I for rotation about an axis displacedas above described from the axis of rotation of driving reel member I,wherefore driven reel member 2 may be called the eccentric reel member.

On drive shaft 5 is mounted a helical gear ll meshing with a helicalgear i 2 on shaft I 3, which may be rotated by any suitable means (notshown). The reel drive shaft I is rotatably supported in frame member 8by means of spaced anti-friction bearings I4 and I 5 which mayconveniently take the form of ball bearings. The outer race of thebearing I4 is located in frame member 6 against a shoulder I 8 while theinner race of said bearing is positioned on drive shaft 5 on a finishedportion l1, being located against shoulder ll. Thus hearing I I isdisposed between shoulders I! and I8.

Bearing I 5, which is positioned at the supported end of frame member 0,is mounted with its inner race on finished portion I! of drive shaft Iwhile -its outer race is located in a suitably finished bore 2| in framemember 8. A washer 22 is caused by means of a collar 24 located on driveshaft 5 to bear against the rear surface 23 of frame member 6. Thusdrive shaft I is accurately located with respect to frame member I withthe portion 25 thereof projecting from the unsupported end of framemember I.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive,concentric reel membe: I comprises a hub portion 26 held on portion 25of drive shaft 5 against a shoulder 21 on said drive shaft by means ofcap nut 22 threaded on the end thereof. Positive driving enga ement isprovided by a pin 29 passing through said drive shaft which pin 29engages a slot 30 at the rear of said hub member. Spaced supportingmembers 3| and 32, which may, as shown, be of substantially circulardisc-like form, are rigidly affixed to said hub member 28, as by bolts32. Bar members 3 of concentric reel member I are mounted in slots II onthe eripheries of said sup ortin members if and 32, as shown in Figure2. Said bar members, which are formed as in Figure 4. have alongitudinally extending portion and a portion 38 extendin radiallytoward the interior of the reel which latter portion is provided withshoulders 31 against which said discs M and 32 bear.

Each of the bar members I is firmly fixed to members 3! and 32 by meansof taper pins 28 at at least one radial intersection of said bar membersand each of members if or 32. Said pins serve to hold the bar members 3firmly in said sup orting members 3| and 22 and to prevent radialmovement of said bar members with respect to said discs. The holes forthe pins 38 are preferably drilled and reamed in the initial assemblywith the bar members in place. The bar members 3 are rovided with suchradially extending portions 3 and longitudinally extending portions 35in order that they may extend over and surround the supporting means forthe bar members of the other reel member 2 without interference with thebar members or other parts of said other reel member.

In this embodiment of the invention, reel mem- 'slots 24 in theirperipheries. in which slots are disposed the bar members of reel member2. As in the case of bar members I, each of said bar members I isprovided with shoulders 31 against which bear supporting members 28 and40. Each comprises a longitudinally extending portion II and a radiallyextending portion 26 which permit the bar member to extend beyond thesupporting means for bar members 3 of reel member I. Bar members 4 areshown as held in supporting members 20 and 40 by means of pins 38 at theradial intersections of said bar members and said supporting members ina manner similar to that described in connection with reel member I.

As shown in Figure 3, the supporting members 39 and ll are mounted onand spaced apart by a cylindrical sleeve ll which in effect forms thehub of reel member 2, the supporting members 3. and being recessed asshown for the purpose of locating them with respect to said sleeve. Theinner supporting member 39 terminates at the interior bore of saidsleeve for the purposes of assembly, while the outer supporting memberll extends inward and serves to aid in locating the reel member 2 andthe anti-friction bearing 42 by means of which the reel member 2 is 1'0-tatably mounted on the frame member 8. Bolts 42 and nuts ll spaced atintervals around reel member 2 serve to clamp the supporting members 30and ll together on the sleeve ll and against shoulders 21 on bar members4, thus forming a rigid assembly of bar members I, members 3! and ll,and sleeve 42. A tubular member 45 surrounding each bolt 43 may beprovided to protect the bolts 43 from processing media and to aid inspacing the members 39 and III.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in ligure 3, anti-frictionbearing 42 comprises a roller bearing made up of an outer race 46mounted in sleeve I and an inner race 41 mounted on a sleeve ll fixed toframe member 0, rollers 49 being disposed between said races. Rings 50,shown as disposed at both ends of said rollers 49, may form parts of thecage for spacing said rollers,- They may also serve to aid in sealingthe bearing against the entrance of extraneous materials such as theprocessing medium or against the escape of lubricant from the bearingitself.

Sleeve 48, to which is mounted the internal race 41 of the anti-frictionbearing 42, and consequently reel member 2, is formed with an innercylindrical surface by means of which it is journalled on a cooperatingcylindrical surface of frame member 6. Said cylindrical surface on framemember 8 has. its axis parallel to but offset from the axis of driveshaft 5. The external 7 surface of sleeve 48 is likewise cylindrical,but its axis is inclined from parallelism with the axis of its internalbore, so that when the sleeve 48 is mounted in the intended position onframe member I, the axis of its external cylindrical surface is disposedin inclined relation to the axis of drive shaft 5 but in a planeparallel to and offset therefrom. 1

Said sleeve I. is rigidly fixed in the desired pomtion on frame member Iby means of screw II. Disc-like member 52 is bolted to said sleeve 42 tohold the reel member 2 in position with respect to frame member 8' andalso to protect the interior mechanism of the reel member. Reel member 2is thus located endwisev on frame member 6 between shoulder 53 on sleeveII and member 52. If desired, "a disc 84 may be mounted at the end ofthe reel member 2 and a sleeve of reagent-resistant material 55 may bemounted on the rear portion of sleeve 48 to protect the rear of the reelfrom possible attack by the processing liquid.

Various other means than those described above may be employed to holdthe bar members of each reel member in the spaced supporting membersthereof.

Thus the slots in the supporting members in which the bar members aredisposed may be of such shape that the bar members fitting therein areprevented from radial movement. This may be accomplished by making theslot of enlarged cross section .below the surface of the supportingmember and forming the bar members so that they closely fit therein,whereby radial movement of the bar members with respect to thesupporting members is eliminated. Thus in the embodiment shown inFigures 6 and 7, a dovetail arrangement is provided; that is, the slots34' in each supporting member taper outward toward the bottom of theslot and the bar members 3' are provided with corresponding portions 56which feed into said slots. Consequently, when each reel member isassembled, the supporting members are held against the shoulders 31 onthe bar members'while radial movement of the bar members with respect tothe supporting members is prevented by the dovetail joint.

Each of the reels shownas embodying the invention is of cantilever form;that is; it is supported from one end only and has the other end thereofunsupported so that thread can be wound on or unwound over the end ofthe reel.

In general, the operation of the reel is similar to that of the reelshown, described, and'claimed. in copending application Serial No.652,089 for Winding reel, filed January 16, 1933, by Walter -F.Knebusch. The offset relation of the reel members causes the threadwound about the reel to be carried for half the circumference of thereel by the bar members of each set; that is, for one-half a revolutionof the reel, the bar members of one reel member carry the thread, whilefor the other half of the revolution of the reel the bar members of theother reel member carry the thread. Thus as the reel rotates the threadis transferred from the bar members of one reel member to those of theother. The inclined relation of the bar members causes the thread toadvance lengthwise of the reel, this because of the fact that the threadwinding on each reel member from the other reel member travels at rightangles to the axis of rotation of the reel member to which it passes.

The result of these operations is to advance the thread lengthwise ofthe reel in a plurality of substantially'helical turns the pitch ofwhich is determined by the inclination of the axes between the reelmembers. In the reel of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, for the direction ofrotation indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, the thread will advancetoward the unsupported end of the reel. This is advantageous since thusthe benefits of the cantilever construction of the reel can be utilizedto the fullest extent.

The reel of the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 8 to 15,inclusive, is similar to that above described.

In this embodiment, the reel member la is mounted on drive shaft 5awhich is journalled in frame member 6a. The reel member 2a is rotatablymounted on frame member 6a, the axes of rotation of said two.reel'members being offset from and inclined to each other, as is thecase in the previously described embodiment. Drive shaft la is journaledin frame member 6a in antifriction bearings; e. g., the ball bearings aand Ila. The outer race of ball bearing Ma is mounted in frame member laagainst shoulder lid. The inner race of said bearing I la is located ondrive shaft 5a, against shoulder I80. A collar 24a is mounted on driveshaft 6a to bear against the inner race of the other bearing I5a whilethe outer race bears against shoulder 51 in member 6a.

The drive shaft in, which is thus accurately located lengthwise of reelmember to, may be driven by any suitable means such as a gear Ila.

Reel member la is mounted on the projecting portion 25a of drive shaftSo. It comprises a hub member 26a mounted on projecting portion 25awhich is held thereon against a shoulder 21a on driveshaft 50 by meansof a cap nut 28a threaded on the end of said drive shaft. Positivedriving engagement is provided between said hub member 26a and driveshaft 5a by a pin 29a passing through said drive shaft having itsprojecting portions disposed in a slot 30a in hub member 26a.

Asin the previously described embodiment of the invention, the barmembers 3a of reel member la are supported by spaced supporting members3 la and 32a which are mounted on said hub member 26a. Said hub member,which is shown to advantage in Figure 10, isprovided on its externalsurface with a plurality of recesses 58 engaged by corresponding lugs 59on said supporting members 3la and 32a which are shown advantageously inFigure 13. Thus positive driving engagement is provided as between saidhub member 26a and supporting members 3la and 32a.

In this embodiment of the invention, the spaced supporting members 3|a.and 32a are clamped; together by bolts 60 which are threaded at one endinto inner supporting member 32a and pass through outer supportingmember 3 la, being provided at their ends with cap nutslil.

Tubes 62 of suitable material such as synthetic resin are providedaround bolts 60 to protect them from processing reagents. Washers 63,which may be made of rubber or like material, are disposed between theends of said tubes 62 and the members 3| a and 32a to aid in sealingframe the bolts against the entrance of processing media. Similarly, capnuts Bl which enclose the ends of bolts Gll'may be made of or coatedwith suitable reagent-resistant material. Tubes 62 may, if desired, alsoassist in spacing the members 3H1. and 32a apart. It has been founddeslrable to dispose bolts 00 substantially as shown; that is, with aring of said bolts near the hub 26a and another ring of bolts spacedtherefrom near the bar members 3a.

As in the previously described embodiment of the invention, the barmembers 3a are disposed in slots34a in the peripheries ofmembers 3m and320., being rigidly held therein by means of pins 3811 at the radialsection of said slots and and 12, the bar members thereof provided withenlarged portions 04 at the points where they contact with supportingmembers tie and 320.

As shown in Figures 8, 9, 11 and 12, bar members 3a are provided withraised portions, such as the button -like portions 65, at the pointswhere they come into contact with the bar members 40 of the other reelmember. Similarly, bar members la are provided with raised portions '5.Such raised portions are for the purpose of avoiding wear on otherportions of the bar members due to sliding contact during operation ofthe pins 380 being provided to hold said bar members flrmly to saidsupporting members. As in the case of reel member la, a series of spacedbolts 80 disposed about reel member 2a serves to clamp supportingmembers "a and lla together, said bolts being threaded into inner member"a, passing through outer member a, and being adapted to be tightened bymeans of cap nuts I.

Tubes 62 and washers I are provided to protect the bolts and to aid inspacing the members "a and Na, if desired. Reel members "a and Ila seaton hub sleeve a with suflicient pressure to hold them firmly on saidsleeve. Supporting members "(land a and sleeve lln. may be recessed asshown to aid in locating these portions in respect to each other.

Sleeve 4 la is mounted for rotation about frame member So by means ofanti-friction bearings a and 81; e. g.. the ball bearings shown. Thesebearings are mounted on the external surface of frame member to in sucha manner that the axis of rotation of sleeve member lid and consequentlyof reel member 2a is in the desired fixed oii'set and inclinedrelationship with respect to drive shaft la. Rear anti-friction bearing61 is located endwise with respect to frame member a by means ofashoulder it, while the other anti-friction bearing 68 is locatedendwise by means of a spacer sleeve es disposed between bearings 88 and61. The outer race of bearing it is located against the shoulder II insleeve memberjia. Sleeve member a, and conse+ quently reel member 2a,are thus located against movement endwise of frame member a by means ofbearings SI and i1 and by means of disc member 52a mounted on theunsupported end of frame member a.

The rear portion of supporting member a may be formed with a sleeveportion I2 having one or more external flns 13 .thereon to assist inpreventing liquid from reaching the interior of the reel from the rearthereof.

As appears from Figure 9 and from Figures 13 to 15, inclusive, thisembodiment of the invention includes means for preventing any p liquidwhich may be applied to the reel from reaching the interior mechanismthereof. Such means comprise a plurality of overlapping annular flangesdisposed on the adjacent inner faces of the inner supporting members 32and "a of ,reel members In and 20. Member 320 is provided with anannular flange portion 14 which reel member 2a. .Reel member 394 isprovided projects toward the supporting member "a for with a similarflange portion I5 which is directed toward supporting member 32a.Annular flange portion 11' is of smaller diameter than 5 annuiarflangemember I5; together, said annular flange P rtions effectively obstructthe space between the reel members Ia and 2a against the entrance ofliquid;

Each flange portion may be substantially 1c trough-shaped, as shown, toaid in preventing the passage of liquids. If liquid is applied to thethread on the reel, a large portion of any liquid which passes betweenreel members in and 2a is caught by the trough in annular flange portion15 .15 and is discharged between the bar members on the lower portion ofthe reel. Any liquid which is not caught by said annular portion 15 iscaught by the trough in annular flange portion 14 and is discharged fromthe lower portion of 2c the reel. Since these portions overlap, theyeffectively prevent the entrance of any liquid to the interior of thereel. Said annular flange portion thus comprises a labyrinth seal. Whileonly two such flange portions are shown, one for each reel member, it isobvious that a large number may be provided.

In this embodiment of the invention, the disclike supporting member Ilais curved or dished, asshowninFigureQ,beingdisposedwithitsconvex sidetoward the unsupported end of the reel. This is advantageous because itincreases the strength of the member Ma and because it makes it possibleto dispose the cap nuts 28a and I in recesses 16 formed in the face ofthe member Sla, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. Therefore, no proiectionsare provided at the unsupported end of the reel around which threadbeing discharged from the reel, can entangle as, for example, in a thethreading-up operation.

The reels above described are designed for operation over-long periodsduring which they are subjected to liquids. For this reason, thebearings are enclosed for protection against the entrance of processingliquids and sealing means are provided between the reel members toprevent the .e of liquid therebetween. Moreover, parts of the reelsexposed to the processing liquids may be made or covered with suitablereagent-resistant materials. Thus, the parts indicated in heavysectioning. such as the bar members, the supporting members for said barmembers, the hub members on which said supporting members are mounted,the tubes sur- 5; rounding the through bolts which hold the supportingmembers together, the cap nuts therefor, etc., may be molded, cast, orcut of hard rubber, Bakelite, synthetic resins, or other materialsresistant to the action of the processing liquids. 6|

As is apparent from the above description, reels embodying the presentinvention may be of very strong built-up constructions. This isparticularly advantageous in the case of large reels, since it resultsin reductions in both cost and weight. Moreover, the reels of thepresent invention can be readily mbled by removing the nut at the end ofthe drive shaft, drawing the concentric reel member of! the drive shaft,and removing the member 52 or 52a. from the 71 unsupported end of theframe member 6 or a preparatory to drawing the eccentric reel member of!the frame member. Asembly of the reel may similarly be easilyaccomplished.

lflirthermore, since in the illustrated embodi- 7| ments of theinvention the reel members are mounted on anti-friction bearings, thepower required to drive the reels is low, which is advan-' tageous inplants for the continuous processing of thread wherein large numbers-ofreels are employed. Such bearings reduce maintenance costs, since theymay operate for long periods of .time without getting out of order andwithout shutdowns for lubrication of the reels, adjustments for wear,etc. Indeed, it has been found that if the anti-friction bearings aregreasepacked at assembly, the reels will operate indefinitely with noattention to the bearings. Such advantages of anti-friction bearings areprovided by the present invention in a reel of cantilever construction,which feature is of farreaching importance.

It is apparent that the embodiments of the invention above described arepurely illustrative and that numerous modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. It is evident thatthe reels of the invention may be employed for various other uses thanthose above indicated and in particular for advancing strip materialsother. .than thread. In the appended claims, the term thread is intendedto include, besides thread, all materials capable of being wound andadvanced by the reels of the present invention. It is intended that thepatent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims,whatever features of patentable novelty reside in the invention.

What is claimed is:.

l. A cantilever reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generallyhelical turns comprising a longitudinally extending supporting memberwhich is supported from one end only; anti-friction bearing meansmounted on the exterior surface of said supporting member; a first reelmember comprising a rigid set of spaced, longitudinally extending barmembers mounted on said anti-friction bearing means for rotation aboutsaid supporting member; a second reel member comprising a rigid set ofspaced bar members alternating with those of said first reel member;and, supp rting said second reel member for rotation thereof about anaxis inclined from parallelism with that of said first reel member,antifrlction bearing means of an external diameter smaller than theinternal diameter of said firstmentioned anti-friction bearing meansmounted in said supporting member within the limits of the portion ofsaid first-mentioned reel member associated with said first-mentionedantifriction bearing means, one end of the structure defined by saidreel members being unobstructed by supporting means for either reelmember.

2. A cantilever reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generallyhelical turns comprising a longitudinally extending supporting memberwhich is supported from one end only; anti-friction bearing meansmounted on the external surface of said supporting member; a first reelmember comprising a set of spaced longitudinally extending bar membersmounted on said anti-friction bearing means for rotation about saidsupporting member; a second reel member comprising a set of spacedlongitudinally extending bar members alternating with those of saidfirst reel member; a shaft having a projecting end on which said secondreel member is mounted; and, supporting said shaft for rotation thereofabout an axis inclined from parallelism with that of said first reelmember, anti-friction bearing means .of an external diameter smallerthan the internal diameter of said first-mentioned anti-friction bearingmeans mounted in said supporting memmeans being disposed adjacent theunsupported end of said supporting member; a first reel membercomprising a set of spaced longitudinally extending bar members mountedon said spaced anti-friction bearing means for rotation about saidsupporting member; a second reel member comprising a set of spacedlongitudinally extending bar members alternating with those of saidfirst reel member; a shaft having a. projecting end on which said secondreel member is mounted; and spaced anti-friction bearing means in saidsupporting member supporting said shaft for r0- tatlon thereof about anaxis inclined from parallelism with that of said first reel member, oneof said last-mentioned anti-friction bearing means being of an externaldiameter smaller than the internal diameter of said first-mentionedantifriction bearing means and being mounted in'said supporting memberadjacent the unsupported end thereof, whereby one end of the structuredefined by said reel members is unobstructed by said shaft or saidsupporting member.

4. A reel for advancing thread comprising two adjacent rigid reelmembers supported for rotation about axes which are inclined fromparallelism with each other, each of said reel members including (a) twospaced supporting members extending transversely of their respectiveaxes, (b) means extending from one of said supporting members to theother for maintaining said supporting members in spaced relationshipand, rigidly fixed to the peripheries of said supporting members of saidreel member, (0) a set of spaced, longitudinally extending bar memberswhich project in one direction only from said supporting members toencompass the supporting members for the other reel member and which areinterleaved with the bar members of the, other reel member.

5. A reel for advancing thread comprising two adjacent rigid reelmembers supported for rotation about axes which are inclined fromparallelism with each other, each of said reel members including (a) twospaced supporting members extending transversely of their respectiveaxes each of which has in its peripheral edge a plural- ,ity of recesseseach of which in cross section is larger within than at the peripheraledge of said supporting member, (b) means extending from one of saidsupporting members to theother for maintaining said supporting membersin spaced relationship, and (c) a set of spaced, longitudinallyextending bar members having portions which closely fit the recesses insaid supporting members, which bar members project in one direction onlyfrom said supporting members to encompass the supporting members for theother reel member and which are interleaved with the bar members of theother reel member.

6. A reel. for advancing thread comprising two said shaft orsaidsupporting adjacent rigid reel members supported for rotation about axeswhich are inclined from parallelism with each other, each of said reelmembers including (a) two spaced supporting members extendingtransversely of their respective axes and having radial slots in theirperipheral edges,

(b) means extending from one of saidsupporting members to the other formaintaining said supporting members in spaced relationship, (0) a set ofspaced longitudinally extending bar members disposed in said slots,which bar members project in one direction only from said supportingmembers to encompass the supporting members for the other reel memberand which are interleaved with the bar members of the other reel member,and (d) pins at the radial junctions of said slots and said bar membersto prevent radial movement of said bar members in said slots.

7. A reel for advancing thread comprising two adjacent rigid reelmembers supported for rotation about axes which are inclined fromparallelism with each other, each of said reel members including (a) twospaced supporting members extending transversely of their respectiveaxes, (b) a common hub member on which said supporting members aremounted and, rigidly fixed to the peripheries of said supporting membersof said reel member, (c) a set of spaced longitudinally extending barmembers which project in one direction only from said supporting membersto encompass the supporting members for the other reel member and whichare interleaved with the bar members of the other reel member; and, inat least one of said reel members, through members extending from onesupporting member to the other holding together the supporting membersof said reel member.

8. A reel for advancing thread comprising two adjacent rigid reelmembers supported for rotation about axes which are inclined frompenallelism with each other, each of said reel members including (a) twospaced, supporting members extending transversely oi their respectiveaxes each of which has in its peripheral edge a plurality of recesseseach 01' which in cross section is larger within than at the peripheraledge of said supporting member, (b) a common hub member on which saidspaced supporting members are mounted, and (c) a set of spacedlongitudinally extending bar members having portions which closely litthe recesses in said supporting members, which bar members project inone direction only from said supporting members to encompass thesupporting members for the other reel member and which are interleavedwith the bar members of the other reel member; and, in at least one ofsaid reel members, through members extending'from one supporting memberto the other holding together the supporting members of said other reelmember.

9. A reel for advancing thread comprising two adjacent rigid reelmembers supported for rotation about axes which are inclined fromparallelism with each other, each of said reel members including (a) twospaced supporting members extending transversely of their respectiveaxes and having radial slots in their peripheries, (b) a common hubmember on which said spaced supporting members are mounted, (c) a set ofspaced longitudinally extending bar members which project in onedirection only from said supporting members to encompass the supportingmembers for the other reel member and which are interleaved with the barmembers of the other reel member, and (d) pins at the radial aaaoncsjunctions of said slots and said bar members to prevent radial movementof said bar members in ,said slots; and, in at least one of said reelmembers, through members extending from one supporting member to theother holding together the supporting members of said reel member.

10. A reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generally helicalturns comprising two cooperating sets of bar members supported forrotation about axes which are displaced from each other, each of saidsets of bar members being substantially circular in cross section;supporting means for each of said sets of bar members spaced from thesupporting means for the other set of bar members; and independent meanson adjacent faces of said supporting means cooperating to prevent theentrance of liquid, such as that applied to the thread-on the reel forprocessing purposes, into the central portion of the space between thesupporting .means for said sets of bar members.

11. A reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generally helicalturns comprising two cooperating sets of bar members supported forrotation about axes which are displaced from each other, each of saidsets of bar members being substantially circular in cross section;supporting means for each of said sets of bar members spaced from thesupporting means for the other set of bar members; and, disposed onadjacent faces of said supporting means, means which coact to form alabyrinth seal preventing the entrance of liquid,

such as that applied to the thread on the reel for processing purposes,into the central portion of the space between the supporting means forsaid sets of bar members.

12. A reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generally helicalturns comprising two cooperating sets of bar members supported forrotation about axes which are displaced from each other, each of saidsets of bar members being substantially circular in cross section;supporting means for each of said sets of bar members spaced from thesupporting means for the other set of bar members; and, disposed onadjacent faces of said supporting means, overlapping annular ridgeswhich cooperate to prevent the entrance of liquid, such as that appliedto the thread on the reel for processing purposes, into the centralportion of the space between the supporting means for said sets of barmembers.

13. A reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generally helicalturns comprising two cooperating sets of bar members supported forrotation about axes which are displaced from each other, each of saidsts of bar members being substantially circular in cross section;supporting means for each of said'sets of bar members arranged in spacedrelation with respect to each other but with adjacent faces thereofbeing disposed in close proximity; and overlapping trough-shaped annularridges on said adjacent faces cooperating to prevent the entrance ofliquid, such as that applied to the thread on the reel for processingpurposes, into the central portion of the space between the supportlngmeans for said sets of bar members.

14. A reel for advancing thread in a plurality spacing means forpreventing the bar members of said sets from coming into contact duringrotation 01' said sets.

15. A reel for advancing thread in a plurality of generally helicalturns comprising two interdigitating sets of bar members mounted forrotation about independent axes which sets cooperate to advance threadlengthwise of the reel in a plurality of generally helical turns, and,

disposed on the bar members of at least one of said sets, projectionsadapted to contact with the bar members of the other set.

LAVERN J. JORDAN.

